[Role of endogenous cholinergic nerve in esophageal dysmotility with reflux esophagitis]

Abstract

Objective: To study the role of endogenous cholinergic nerve in esophageal dysmotility with reflux esophagitis in a feline model.

Methods: In 16 healthy cats under ketamine anesthesia (20 mg/kg), the abdominal parts of lower esophageal sphincter were cut open to establish the animal model for reflux esophagitis; esophageal motility was measured respectively preoperation and post-esophagitis. The activities of choline acetyltransferase (CHAT) and acetylcholinesterase(ACHE) in medial and distal esophageal body muscle was measured respectively with spectrophotometry, and compared to the normal cats(n = 8).

Results: Reflux esophagitis can make distal esophageal peristaltic amplitude decrease, the distal esophageal peristaltic amplitude of cats with reflux esophagitis [above LES 1 cm: (22.65 +/- 16.53) mm Hg; above LES 3 cm:(39.94 +/- 14.78) mm Hg, P < 0.0001] was significantly lower than that of normal cats [above LES 1 cm: (63.71 +/- 21.34) mm Hg; above LES 3 cm: (73.65 +/- 23.42) mm Hg] and the conducting velocity of distal esophagus was slower than that of normal cats [(1.04 +/- 0.36) cm/s vs (1.39 +/- 0.46) cm/s, P < 0.05]. In the esophagus of reflux esophagitis group, CHAT activity was lower in the model, especially in the distal part [(81.01 +/- 22.03) U/g vs (230.13 +/- 30.10) U/g, P < 0.0001] and ACHE activity remains unchanged.

Conclusion: CHAT activity and pressure level were lower in the distal esophagus with reflux esophagitis compared to the normal cats. This study supported that reflux esophagitis can results in dysmotility of the distal esophagus and the abnormality of endogenous cholinergic innervation is one of the important mechanisms as far as the disorder of esophageal movement in reflux esophagitis.